The Save Sindh Action Committee (SSAC) strike call for August 13 (Saturday) received a warm response on Thursday as Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), National People’s Party (NPP) and Sunni Tehreek (ST) announced supporting the protest. However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) abstained from joining in.
A SSAC delegation, comprising Bashir Qureshi, Harif Chandio, Shah Muhammad Shah and Ayub Shar among others, led by Jalal Muhammad Shah met with leaders of different political parties on Thursday to seek their support for the peaceful protest strike against the administrative distribution of Sindh, reverting commissionerate system and revival of local governments.
First, the delegation called on PML-F chief Pagara at the Kingri House. Talking with the media after the meeting, Pagara said he was supportive of the nationalists’ demand for commissionerate system.
“I support the protest of nationalists for rights of Sindh but will not support the strike call because the mode of my struggle is different.”
He said that his elders had given great sacrifices but now he will get the sacrifices from others. “Our elders have fought for the rights of Sindh.”
Pagara said that he could play a part in bringing Sindhi and Urdu-speaking people closer. “A hole has appeared in the ‘Sindh card’ of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) which will benefit us. Those who are using the Sindh Card will lose.”
The PML-F chief said he was against the local government system from the very first day as urban areas have been more exploited for corruption during the Nazims era than the rural areas.
While addressing the media at Mardan House, ANP Sindh chapter President Shahi Syed announced supporting the strike call and asked his party to make arrangements for taking part in the protests. He also appealed that the transporters should not bring transport on the roads and all businesses to be shut down.
He said the SSAC delegation had visited the Mardan House and asked for support of general strike call. “We [had] promised them that after consulting with party [leaders], we will respond. Today, we held a party meeting in which we decided to support the strike call given by nationalists on August 13. We must play our role against those who want to break Sindh in two parts,” he said.
Syed also appeal to the PPP’s MNAs and MPAs to play their role in restoration of the original shape of Karachi and Hyderabad districts.
Meanwhile, on the visit to JI headquarter Idara Noor-e-Haq, the SSAC delegation met with JI Sindh Amir Asadullah Bhutto and central leaders Muhammad Hassan Mehenti and Abdul Ghaffar Umar.
Talking to the media after the meeting, the JI leaders also announced their support for the peaceful strike.
“The PPP government has insulted the decision taken by Sindh Assembly after being pressurised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. They have made way in breaking Sindh and we are against the break-up of Sindh. All those living in Sindh are brothers and we demand a local bodies system acceptable for all,” the JI leaders said, adding that the nationalists have the right to register their protest.
The SSAC delegation also met NPP Sindh central leader Dr Ibrahim Jatoi. The NPP also announced its support for the strike. “Though we are allies of PPP but cannot withdraw from our rights in Sindh. We are with the people of Sindh on this issue,” said Jatoi. Later, the ST also announced its support for the strike call given by the nationalists.